My solo trip from West to East in Mexico

To give you some brief context, solo female travel has always been a source of inspiration, self-discovery, and open-mindedness for me.

I was fortunate enough to experience solo travel from the age of 22.

I started by traveling alone as a woman to Australia where I lived for 1 year. This country's proximity to Asia and Oceania made me even more curious than I thought I could be. 

That's where my future as a solo female traveler began to take shape, starting with the trip of my dreams: the Philippines. This second solo journey ended up being one of the most beautiful trips and memories of my life. I was just 23 years old and it was only the beginning.

From there, it led to 2, then 3, and suddenly 5 solo trips that brought me real life lessons and personal fulfillment. I couldn't stop anymore. Solitude no longer frightened me, distance no longer mattered, and I had confidence in the unknown.

Now living in Canada, one of my dream destinations was just a 6-hour flight from home.

Mexico!

Well, I had never traveled alone as a woman in Latin America before, and the opportunity presented itself to me. To be completely honest, this time I had apprehensions about places frequented by cartels in certain regions. But while staying alert and informed, my curiosity and desire to discover went against the rumors, articles, and negative stories I had found (unfortunately) about being a solo female traveler in Mexico.

I felt quite alone in my idea of this trip. But I kept telling myself, "If I don't take the leap, I'll never know and I'll regret it."

⚠️ To learn more about dangers in Mexico, you'll find answers to all your questions in a dedicated article about safety for women in Mexico.

Personally, I used the NomadSister platform, which allows sharing accommodations and enriching experiences to bring together groups of female travelers. I met wonderful travel companions thanks to this caring community.

What helped me most was listening to local people. I ask lots of questions to locals: friends I make, drivers, people around... Very honestly, most of them are super caring. They'll tell you very honestly which neighborhoods to avoid, where to go, and how to go about it.

It didn't take me long to gather my courage and take the plunge... I didn't know who to trust anymore between those who knew the area perfectly and advised me to take a local taxi (much cheaper but more dangerous), or Uber which was my first choice without hesitation for the safety of the proposed price and the trust I had given them for all these years of services abroad (Philippines, Bali, Australia, Singapore, and more...)

Depending on your nationality, visa conditions are very different. For a female traveler from Europe, a passport valid for at least 6 months after your return is all you need. Don't worry, you can find all the necessary information on the Mexican government website.

Regarding vaccines: Hepatitis A strongly recommended, yellow fever only if you come from an infected area. I recommend making a medical appointment 4 to 6 weeks before departure.

So I found myself in Guadalajara, capital of Jalisco state, where I was staying in a youth hostel right in the heart of downtown that allowed me to wander around easily for my first 4 days in Mexico.

Note: I was in one of the least safe states in the country according to my sources, so as night approached, I was advised to return to the hostel (which I did...)

I had chosen to discover the festival so popular in Mexico: El Día de los Muertos accompanied by a native guide from Guadalajara. My goal wasn't to walk around cemeteries and make friends with the deceased, NO! El Día de los Muertos had the power to remind me of the ephemeral nature of our existence and learn about death from the perspective of Mexican culture. But instead of that, I learned even more about life and how to live it.

Another thing I surely wouldn't have experienced elsewhere is of course the discovery of Tequila in its birthplace in TEQUILA, 2 hours drive from Guadalajara that I was able to book from my youth hostel.

A first assessment of my first 4 unforgettable days in Mexico despite the pressure of having to return early in the evening! All I needed was the Yucatán region, the safest region in Mexico to discover a little more about Mayan culture. And suddenly, I could walk alone in the evening, wander around and talk to people without being stared at.

This time I was staying in a very authentic Hacienda near the heart of the lovely colonial town of Merida, capital of Yucatán and my starting point for the many excursions I had carefully prepared...

With one goal in mind: organize my "Day tours" by getting off the beaten path of overly touristy places like for example Tulum, Cancun or Las Islas Mujeres: starting with Las Coloradas.

A small pink and turquoise blue paradise 3 hours drive from Merida, nestled in a natural national park that I'm sure most of you didn't know existed until now... That day, there were only 2 of us doing this excursion anyway... Coincidence?

Tired from my days, I only stopped in the evening to discover superb restaurants in the city, where I could eat like a queen with atypical dishes and frolic in the pretty streets of Merida while immersing myself in the half-Mexican/half-Mayan culture for the rest of my days.

Well, I couldn't leave Mexico without having seen one of the 7 wonders of the new world: Chichen Itza and El templo de Kukulkan. A full day awaited me the day before my return to Canada and 10°C...

I started it by discovering El pueblo Mágico, the all-yellow town, then by swimming in a fabulous Cenote before really immersing myself in Mayan culture at Chichen Itza.

Very touristy, I was rather disappointed by this place too crowded by locals and their souvenir stands. The entrance to the site is still $50, not counting an additional tax to buy and since I was carrying my GoPro, I also had to add $10 more to use it... It definitely smelled like mass tourism.

My day's excursion finally ended beautifully in the town of Valladolid where I was able to visit the Mayan chocolate museum (a completely different taste to try) before returning to Merida.

One thing I take away from this solo trip to Mexico is that, like in most of my travels, something unexpected always happens to me, often "out of my control"!

For this umpteenth solo female travel experience, I keep one of the best experiences of my life. I took a risk and it became my best ally. I had no misadventures as my sources had "predicted" for a woman alone in a country said to be "too dangerous."

I'm now more than delighted to have discovered the kindness and benevolence of Mexicans. I will never forget and never regret taking this risk of traveling alone in Mexico as a woman. ☺

You must always follow your instinct and take the step... As for me, I became rich from these travels. The most beautiful of gifts.

I hope I've inspired you if you were hesitating to go solo. I have only one piece of advice: never rely on rumors or what you might hear around you.

Trust YOURSELF!

See you soon for more solo adventures!



Want to continue your journey in the surrounding areas? I've got what you need.